Used 2010 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Consumer Reviews

AC garbage

Do not buy this car or any VW-they refuse to stand by their product! In 7/13 my AC completely quit. VW said I needed a new AC compressor for $1700. VW of America helped-cost brought down to $700. AC worked until 5/14 where delayed/intermittent cooling started. 6/13 VW said AC had a leak. Problem continued. Had diagnostic done today and told I need a new AC unit. The AC compressor- new 7/13- is breaking down and sending debris thru system-cost to replace $2+K. VW of A will not help to replace AC system because 93K miles on car even though new AC comp was put in 7/13.. Warranty on 7/13 work was 12 month/12K miles-17K put on car in 10 months no warranty. Go read VW forums. Update 8/19/17- Car bought back by VW

Love my 2010 Jetta TDI premium,220hp with 290torqe

I decided to write a review because everyone freak out about the TDI emission scandal. When I'm looking for a car ...I want fuel efficient with decent horsepower. I've been looking all other different brands like Toyota, Honda because they are famous for their cheap maintenance and have a good reputation. But Toyota look is not selling me and I can't stand Prius look even though that will be the best buy for fuel economy. I can't buy Honda either because I hate honda dashboard ...too busy with many buttons and look horrendous. I end up buying 2010 Jetta Sedan at first sight without a plan. Dashboard is simple and I got premium so I got good audio with a screen, heated seat , fake v-tech leather but good quality leather and it helps a lot for me cus easier to clean up after I travel with my dogs...also have a sunroof. I'm not sure how many jetta tdi model they have..but if you buy premium with sunroof you won't have any complains about interior.....how about exterior? It's simple ordinary sedan ..not flashly but it's really cute. The best part is fuel economy, I travel 60 miles monday to friday and go out at weekend too. My daily commute is around 60miles aday and my fuel fill up cost btw $22 to $25 a week which is half of the gas price of other german cars. My husband owned Audi and he has to spend like $45 a week for gas. My car Horse power is 140 but torque is 236. Can you belive that? I can easily accelerate whenever I want to..it makes my life a lot easier when i have to change lane and accelerate ..I do not feel like my car is luck of power at all.. In fact one of my friend comment how fast is my car is. She did not except that much of torque in jetta. Bascially this car is like prius but better. I can keep go on and on how much i love this car and. f... .this car as my lover. Ok one draw back experience is that my car had EGR VALVE problem at 125,000 miles .. it could cost like $2500 but when we spoke with mechanic and my second option is deactivate EGR VAVLE as it is exit for USA emission regulation and it doesn't work effiently. So i deactivated my EGR valve, install catcatalytic converter to pollute less , also chip and software update for hp boost plus exhaust pipe. It end up costing $2,000 but its worth it because I got better hp with better mpg. Also vw goodwill package give me $1,000 so i only need to invest 1,000 out of my pocket. My car has 220hp and 290 torque, combined economy is around 50mpg. For all the people want to say ..now we know that TDI is polluting the air ..why should we buy to destroy the mother earth??? TDI model is already on the market there will be someone always buying it and driving it so no matter what it will pollute it anyway and i doubt my car is more polluting than old truck on that road..not to mentioned EPA calculate pollution by a gallon. SO "EXECUSE ME, MY CAR GO FATHER IN A GALLON THEN MUSTANG OR OTHER TRUCK". Even if is still polluting it not horrible as they make up to be.....you can now install catalytic converter like me or i think vw emission fix is also same as my initial fix plus software update. You can buy the fixed TDI and boost the power like i did. Because of the scandal TDI price is going down so that's the deal that you can have. So why not? I bought my tdi before the scandal come out...and when I heard about that they lie about emission of course im upset but it is what it is for now and i still love my car and I'm still Volkswagen's fan. I hope that they don't lie in the future tho. I will not buy any car except Volkswagen cus they price well and good quality car . In the end, TDI Engine last forever my friend....get a good deal when you can

Thinking of buying a VW?

Well 700 characters is hard. here are excerpts: After years of owning Toyota’s and Honda’s I was ready to purchase a new car. Bought 2010 VW Tdi with 39,700 miles. After purchase found out with the original owner, it was in for repairs (not maintenance) at the following mileages: 1916, 12258, 14062, 21409, 23772, 33602, 35413, 39361, 39426, 39554. Note how soon after that last repair visit the previous owners sold it. I now have 59k on it and has been in the shop 6 times in 11 months. nav/radio replaced, heating/cooling control panel replaced, broke down with engine issues, seat heater replaced, etc etc etc.,

Poor quality and poor Service

The car has had numerous issues and it is only 27 months old with 38k miles. Most recently and now 2k miles after warranty coverage ended, the turbo intercooler cracked which caused the particulate filter and EGR cooler to fail. My extended warranty covers the IC but the DPF and EGR c ooler not covered. Cost to repair is $2100. VW offering to contribute $1000. 2-year old car and I owe $1,100 for repair...POOR Quality and VW not standing behind there product. BEWARE this car and extended warranties purchased from VW

More than the engine

Preface: I've owned a LOT of cars. I bought a very clean, used VW Jetta TDI (2010) thinking I'd get a reliable car with great mileage. Well, mileage: yes! Reliability: no. VW engineering is--and I say this honestly--very strange. I think they design with the idea that nothing should fail. Very idealistic. But stuff DOES fail! That's real life! And boy did things fail. I replaced sensors, a glow plug, an intake manifold, a radio, bulbs, a battery...all in just two years on a car with not many miles. The little diesel is great, don't get me wrong. But reliable this car is not. And very expensive to maintain. I don't say this lightly: I will never buy another VW.

Incredible machine!

The 2010 Jetta TDI is far and away the finest car I have ever owned. It is tightly constructed and a joy to drive. Best of all is the mileage: in a mix of highway and suburban driving, I consistently get in the mid-to-high 40's, sometimes over 50 mpg. I like the styling (last year for this style) and the interior quality is excellent. While not a screamer, performance is beyond adequate. In 20 months, I have put over 47,000 miles on this car with very few issues. My wife has a Honda Accord, and she is very jealous of my Jetta. I'm very pleased!

Solid Effort from VW Lets You "Go Green"

2010 Jetta TDI; Graphite Blue, Titan Black interior; 6 spd; 17" rims. Love the styling of this car inside and out -- paint color is absolutely gorgeous. Interior fit and finish is stellar, especially for this price range. Trunk is enormous. Everything you touch feels solid and thoroughly German. Genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter a nice touch. V-tex seating surfaces do get insanely hot, but they're the best synthetic leather interior pieces I've seen -- can't wait to try the heated seats in the winter. Above-average mileage around town, terrific mileage on the highway. It's not a dragster, but accelerates strongly on the highway (3rd-6th), and is quite bored at 90 mph.

Never Again

My 2010 VW Jetta TDI sportwagen was fine for the first 4 thousand miles then it has been nothing short of a nightmare. In 2.5 years this TDI has been in the shop over 80 days for check engine and service now (glow plug flashing) at this point the car just quits when it feels like it. Parts, parts and more parts has yet keep this VW on the road. Driving down the road no warning..Quits!, make a turn and hit a pothole..Quits! Trade-in value at VW dealers is 4 to 5 thousand dollars off bluebook because of the "issue" with this car. Customer care would only offer 1 thousand dollars and refused to swap for a same year and milage VW.Make things right..guess not. Hitler's dream is my nightmare

Worst Car I have ever owned - So glad VW bought it

I bought new in 2009. The combined cost of warranty and non-warranty (my cost) work has surely exceeded the purchase price of the vehicle in 150K miles. It spent much of the Summer 2015 in the dealer shop and they finally admitted they can't fix the emissions system. Problems started around 10K miles when VW replaced a $7000 part in the exhaust system - that's crazy. Then the problems just went on - 3 times the cruise control failed; several sensors and relays have failed; wiring too close to exhaust parts has burned; the particulate filter clogged; the starter failed; the waste gate had been freed up at least 3 times; the radio failed; the ECM failed; and the turbo actuator and a sensor have failed. This is my 11th and last VW. I finally sold it for parts one week after the recall was announced. The dealer told me to sell it because it could not be fixed. After a year, the person I sold it to has resold it to someone in CT and has made ~$4000 extra from the VW buyback. This Jetta was a lemon and VW Corp treated me like the problem and did nothing to make it right. In retrospect, I suspect the initial replacement part at 10K miles which involved completely removing the entire front of the vehicle and wiring probably resulted in its being reassembled incorrectly. BTW, the dealer completely rewired the engine compartment at their cost around 150K miles and told me everything was fixed as they had several times before - the IP lights were all on again the next day as they were every time it was "fixed". I think my dealer tried to some extent but eventually just wanted me to go away. They knew resetting the ECM would turn off the IP lights for~50 miles so I would go away "happy" but be back in a couple of days. What is even worse than the vehicle is the way VW has told me it's not their problem that my vehicle sucks. They had the same response even after their dealer told me to call and complain. Most of the serious issues I had were related to the emissions system - sound familiar now that they have recalled this TDI. I have purchased 2 new vehicles in 2015 and neither has had any problems after 42,000 & 26,000 miles. They are not VW's. I have replaced my 2010 and 2013 TDI's with a used 1990 Ford Ranger which gave many more trouble free miles than the 2010 Sportwagon in the 14 months I owned it. I ran the $900 Ranger 42,000 miles with little trouble and it never left me on the side of the road dead like the Jetta did many times. I now have a $2700 2001 Ranger which has done 45K trouble free miles. Can I change my overall rating to zero stars?

Disappointing After Warranty

Drives great. Love the mileage. Functionality is outstanding. Carries three bikes on top, three young kids, lots of luggage. But, AC compressor replaced under warranty 14 months ago, and is out again. VW knows they have a problem with this and won't deal with it. Nearly entire fuel system replaced under warranty. Another problem VW is aware of, yet won't do a recall. Car has been in shop numerous times for fuel system and AC issues, particularly after 25,000 miles. Now has 59,000. Was hoping to get 200,000 or more with a diesel engine. Not looking good. First VW. May be my last if they don't replace this second AC compressor. Would consider VW again only if there is proof of improvement.

Mixed Bag

TDI has great gas mileage, good power, heavy, road hugging solid car with good storage. Radio went out and that caused a parasitic drain on the battery for some reason. New radio cost $700 plus and while I could have lived without the radio the dead radio was actually draining the battery for some reason and this is a common issue. Fuse box went out and it should not have. The throttle box went out and it should not have. Those were all costly repairs. I had two glo plugs go out but I can live with that and understand that. I love it when it runs and it parks well in an urban area. Then there is the emissions issue which is by now well known and yes I feel deceived like everyone else. I was/am hope to get 300,000 miles out of the car given it is a diesel. I have 65,000 now but I do not know how the fix will affect the car. All in all.....I should have bought a Ford or perhaps a Mazda or Subarau

80k

Got this guy new in 2010. I have put close to 80,000 miles on it since. For the price a great car. Fuel economy is amazing( especially if you're a mostly highway driver). I've averaged 45 mpg in mostly highway driving. City driving gets 32mpg. The torque band is equally awesome. DSG is fantastic. As it is a VW and a diesel you can definitely count on annoying little things going wrong with the electric(AC went out, covered under warranty, O2 sensors died wayyy earlier than they should have etc). The one BIG issue I had was the High Pressure Fuel Pump exploding and destroying the fuel line. VW covered it as they know it's an issue.Hope I can get 200k out of it.

Where do i start?

The good: great performance, power, interior build quality, MPG. The bad: .......Expensive maintenance, engineering flaws abound.... HPFP not engineered to USA diesel tolerances. 7K $ repair, DPF (filter that once clogged under 150K miles cost several thousand dollars.) How do you engineer a car with known issues that are so expensive to repair? intake manifold went around 120k. Then the EGR problems and limp mode. I unloaded the car with 160k miles once the wastegate actuator went on the turbo. Oh yeah, good luck if your turbo goes..it will....another several thousand dollars. I know 2 others whose turbo blew before 150k. That is why i got rid of this money-sucking headache. Shame on you VW ! Lawsuits, and building a car just shy of a lemon. VW ...NEVER AGAIN

drain plug broken by VW dealer

I took my 2010 Jetta TDI into the dealer for the 50k oil change. They broke the drain plug. This dealer blamed both the dealer who did the 40k oil change and VW for a defective drain bolt. Neither party would accept any responsibility or offer any assistance. The shop that broke my car did offer 50% towards the $600 repair bill as they needed to replace the oil pan. VW after doing nothing did ask me if I was satisfied with their service. Dear VW I'm not satisfied and I will never purchase another VW product. Avoid VW. If they will not help on a minor issue that had nothing to do with wear or abuse do not expect VW to step and help if something major goes wrong.

I will never by another VW

Ever since I got this car the breaks have been squeaky, the power steering has gone out, there is a recall on it, I have replaced the battery in it three times, and the electrical wiring in it has gone out. It appears that VW did not just cheat on emissions, but also the overall quality in this vehicle.

Warranty issues

I opine that Volkswagen of America (VoA) does not stand behind their warranty process. I brought my 2010 JettaWagen TDI to a VW dealer for sunroof problems, during the warranty period. It was serviced, but the problems with intermittent failure to open/close continued. Subsequently the sunroof failed, of course out of warranty now. It cost me almost $2,000 to repair. When I contacted VoA today, they denied my warranty claim. Buyer beware - if you have intermittent problems during the warranty process, you may be stuck paying for the repair later, even though you brought it to VoA''s attention. This is not right. I gave VoA multiple chances to address this issue, but they have refused.

If only it were reliable

19k miles and 21 months of ownership. So far ran into these problems ( all fixed under warranty): parking brake failure. Both rear door locks stopped working, doors would not unlock. Dealer replaced the switches. Front passenger door wouldn't lock, I was in another town on vacation and had to leave the car knowing that the front passenger door was unlocked. rear center seat belt jammed/locked. dealer replaced the whole mechanism. Fuel pump failure on 8/1/11. an expense of about $8000, dealer replaced even though they said it was not covered under warranty. fuel economy dropped to 28 recently. steering wheel loosened a bit at the center. pursuing mediation through BBB.

money pit

I have had my car 5 years/100,000 miles. AC compressor went out last week=$1600. This week, the particulate filter/catalytic converter went out and that is going to cost $5100. At 120,000 miles, the timing belt will need to be replaced=$1200. The NADA on the car is $9000. I will never buy another VW.

Jetta Sportwagon TDI

This is a great, practical car for the money. For a fuel sipping economy car it has great acceleration from 0-50 then looses its oomph. Takes on the AZ mountains with no problems. Mileage averages have been City 32-35mpg, Hwy 40-48, overall after 5000 miles 35mpg. Cargo area has plenty of room especially with the rear seat cushions folded forward. Only complaints are some minor creature comfort issues, lack of storage and excessive road noise. Also, the ipod interface is useless, it takes forever to scroll through the ipod menu as if the stereo needs more memory.

Great gas mileage and fun to drive.

I've put over 3000 miles on the VW TDI since 15 March and have enjoyed it immensely. I hit 44 mpg on a trip from Memphis to Indianapolis and still had 3 gallons in the tank when I filled up only a half mile from my house. The car doesn't have as much kick as the VW Jetta 1.8T (our second car), but it is close and improves the gas mileage by over 10mpg. Gas mileage does take a hit going over 70, but you could probably get close to 50 going between 55-60. I wasn't about to get run off the interstate to find out. The stereo features a great sound stage because of the extra speakers, and the 16cf is great. In response to an earlier review, the car does have brakes that do work well.

Overall very good - but water leak.

Panoramic, Goal wheel upgrade, and Ipod hookup. dGoal wheels are great if clean your own car. Payed premium for diesel and fuel economy. Don't know if hype and economy is worth paying sticker. Had a massive water leak from sunroof drain hose that leaked into spare tire pan. A couple inches of water in the pan and your windows will never defog. Had to talk the dealer into a loaner for that issue. Pleather is underwhelming. Might be nice after sand volleyball league and mtn. biking next summer. Still miss the leather. Seats hurt your back and butt on long drives. Does not sound or smell like the old diesels. To find the diesel pump, look for the oil slick at the gas station.

I really wish I could say I like it

This is my 4th VW. Its my 2nd TDI. I loved my previous TDI. This one, not so much. I am the 2nd owner having bought it 7/13 with ~17K miles. I have put almost 40K miles on it. It is far more powerful than my previous TDI but fuel economy does not match it either. I have not really had any mechanical issues. Just routine maintenence. I should really like this car but I am just not happy with it. There is a resonance (buzz) in the dash between 1500 & 1800rpm which is where I end up running most of the time. The sunroof shade also rattles. The seats are just not comfortable to me. I'm not a slender person but I'm not morbidly obese either. The side bolsters on the seats make them too narrow. ***update*** In December 2015 I decided life is too short to drive something over 20K miles a year that I don't enjoy. I traded it using the VW TDI Goodwill gift cards to help with the down payment. I took a beating on the trade but I was relieved to be done with it. A year later VW came through with additional settlement money to compensate qualified sellers for the TDI debacle. Between the gift cards and the settlement I think I was made whole financially speaking. Now that VW has "de-contented" the Jetta I do not ever see me owning another.

Horrible Air Conditioning

My AC started to fail at 40k. Took the to the dealer repeatedly. Per VW of Lafayette, LA - Standard operation of the Air condition is that it takes 8 - 10mins of drive time for the air conditioning to begin working. Eventually my AC totally failed - the compressors on these cars have known defects will produce metal which will contaminate the entire AC system. Both dealer and VW of America refuse to warranty the car. Horrible experience with this car. Btw standard oil change at the dealer is $300! Beware!

Great Value

As this is my 4th VW, I thought I knew of all the features this car offered but several time with the past 2 weeks of ownership I've found new features that my Rabbit did not have. Performance, comfort, features and free maint for 36K miles cannot be beat.

Nice car when its not in service dept

I've had this car a month and its been in VW service for half of that time with three different episodes of having the check engine light on (oxygen sensor replaced, EGR gasket replaced, software update). I suspect they disconnected the check engine light after the last time... I've also had the windshield cracked by a rock... When I can drive the car its been very good. The fuel economy is astounding - 40 mpg in mixed driving 47-50 on the highway. Interior is very nice with high quality materials and finish for this class of car. Touch screen stereo is nice. Large trunk. The car overall seems very solid and the handling is first rate. Bluetooth has been funky - after one call it shuts off.

TDI Jetta: Awful Brakes! 23MPG Total

Beware, as the TDI Diesel engine is Heavy, causing this car to Brake horribly. I have had 3 slow driving near misses due to braking being massively delayed. Folks these brakes are the worst I have ever driven. 23 MPG combined, you can call this good, but forget about all these 40 and 50MPG FALSE CLAIMS.

Reliable, strong, economical

Review after 7 years at 82k miles The car drives and looks like almost new. Jut a bit worse stability (perhaps needs alignment) and the engine a bit louder. The mileage depends on external factors and is a bit worse, perhaps because of computer reprogramming; same trip can be 38 or 46 mpg. Review at 70k miles The car looks and drives like new with minimal maintenance. Replaced battery at 60k miles, fixed real brakes and one glow plug at 70k miles. Would be perfect if a) less road noise on poor surfaces and b) better fuel economy when colder (< 70F) especially under short runs, a clear sign of emission controls. Old review ========= No problems in 36k+ miles. Drives like glued to a road. Great city acceleration or when lights turn green, and pretty good on interstates when downshifted. Mileage depends on the number and frequency of stops: 32-40 in town, 45-52 on secondary roads and close to 50 on interstates. All with dynamic driving. Excellent radio and cell bluetooth integration. Large cargo volume with non-crushing hinges. Quiet engine except for occasional louder turbocharger heard on quiet surfaces.

Norm from Mississauga

I have a 2011 Golf Sportswagen (Jetta in U.S.A.) and knew precisely what I was getting into. I was aware of the DSG problems that have been fixed . I knew that these were perhaps the finest seats that you can get in a car because I have a very bad back and these seats were the tonic. I loaded up the options list because I travel a lot each year - about 60,000 miles per because we have a home just north of Maine and I drive about 16 hours at a stretch. My only complaints have been the trim seals for the rear doors that were fixed under warranty. Other than that I knew to get a mid cycle refresh model so that all the bugs were worked out.

6 Months with '10 Jetta TDI

First, the good: the car is very fun to drive, the interior compares with much higher priced cars and the fuel economy is good. The, bad: two "campaigns" within 6 months, oil leak, sway bar (common problem I've read) and lower control arm bushings (common problem I've read) all replaced. Now, it's leaking diesel after 18,500 miles and just about six months. There is a problem with some of the high pressure fuel pumps failing. Hopefully, this is not a precursor of the failure for me. I loved the car at first, but service at the dealers is poor and VW customer service is less than helpful. Be forewarned about the high pressure fuel pump failure and poor service from dealers

What everyone should own...

Have put 37000+ flawless mile on the vehicle. Not one problem. Been to the dealer three times for free oil change and service. Always get 42 to 44 per tank with individual drives of over 50mpg. Seats are very comfortable, ergonomics are first rate. Vehicle is very easy to live with on a day to day basis. Did not get nav system, GARMIN is much less expensive.

Not happy with reliability

I bought a 2010 model Sportwagon TDI in January 2011. Last model available on clearance sale. It is the fully loaded one with the huge sunroof and all the goodies. DSG transmission. Had it 3 and half years it has 70K on in and this is the list of problems I have had. Sun roof problem Injector failure Injector wire harness failure Transmission cap broke and leaked tranny fluid out. Now the AC went out this weekend The transmission is extremely expensive to do regular maintenance on. I would only recommend a stick shift to anyone buying a VW TDI.

one month very good

Great mixture of fun to drive and fuel economy. Getting about 36 mpg city and 45 highway. great stereo, love the sd memory card feature. Surprising trunk space; I like the bluetooth connectivity.

NOT meeting Expectation

2010 Jetta TDI rated 42 on the road and getting 38 on the road. MPG indicator always reads higher than actual MPG. Fun to drive...MPG does not meet implied MPG. Car will lope and/or miss fire dealer finds nothing and has no way to correct issue of very low MPG.

jetta tdi

After 10,000 miles i can't think of a more comfortable car for the money. A little more cabin noise than I expected. Now getting 43-45 mpg on the highway. Great car. Interior definitely showcases german build quality and attention to detail. Transmission is very smooth. Very happy and satisfied with it.

50,000 mile review for 2010 TDI

I've owned the TDI for 50,000 miles and I have had no problems. The car gets better than 42 mpg's as I drive between 55 and 60. I bought my car on July 30th, the last day of the government $1,200 tax rebate scheme, and the car was manufactured in May, so any early production bugs were probably all worked out. I want to keep the car for another 200,000 miles, let us see how that goes.

Still love this 10.5-year-old car

Update: I've had the fix. I’ve noticed no performance changes. To my amazement, mileage seems a bit better. I had expected the opposite. Add in the remarkable extended warranty and I'm sure I made the right choice. I still love the car. BTW, to me it seems to ride and handle better than the 2018 Sportwagen. I don't know if that's better suspension, tires, or ? My 20 10 car is also more refined. The quiet little beep for locking the doors contrasted to the modern deafening blast, the interior lights that dim on and off, heated seats -- all in all the 2010 feels more like a luxury compact while the new one screams "economy." I would really love to have the modern driver aids, but at this point I wouldn't trade the car. It’s now 9/8/2020. Edmunds has asked for another update. As I get older I drive less and less. At the 10.5 year point I have put only 90,000 miles on it, mainly because I’ve remained locked in my house during the Covid 19 pandemic. My opinion is still the same. The car is a delight to drive with a ton of diesel torque when I want to play, handles and feels like a luxury sport car and still great economy — around 35 in town and 45 on the road. Economy seems very susceptible to headwinds and cold temperatures, like any small, light car I suppose. It feels like and is a small car, but the ride and space are more like a midsize SUV. I’m very sorry to hear that VW has discontinued the Sportwagen. It’s sad because in a few years drivers will probably be demanding wagons again. In case you couldn’t tell, I really dislike SUVs and crossovers. They don’t ride as well or handle as well. I love the maneuverability and short turn radius driving in the city and speed and luxurious ride on the highway. One surprising thing to me about my car has been its reliability. It has actually been more reliable than the Japanese cars I have owned: two Hondas, a Toyota and a Datsun (Nissan). I’m surprised to see that at 90,000 miles, mostly stop and go driving in the city, my brakes are nowhere close to needing their first replacement. Overall, my opinion hasn’t changed. The car looks and drives like new inside and out. I’d still love some driver aids, but I haven’t seen or experienced another car I would trade this TDI for. My current guess is that I will never trade it. But never is a long time. I am 82 years old now. During the past year the Check Engine Light came on, requiring a new oxygen sensor which was covered under the new warranty. Otherwise,the car continues to be dependable and fun to drive. I still have no plans to trade it.

do not buy a jetta with navigation

the car runs well and gets great mileage, but the navigation system does not have all the maps and does not connect to the phone (despite phone buttons). i am most annoyed because all VW customer service says is to talk to navteq and buy new, several hundred dollar, map upgrades. very poor customer service in my opinion. minor gripe, but there is a noticable delay with the horn.

Fine car with Bluetooth issues...

I finally reached the tipping point with filling my pig of an Audi with fuel every week and had read many positive reviews of VW's 2.0 TDI engine. I have owned several Audis and VWs so I am well aware of their iffy reliability and expensive maintenance, but I've got a good warranty and free maintenance for 3 years. The engine and DSG transmission are perfectly matched. The powertrain is peppy, smooth and relatively quiet, considering it is a diesel. Beware of the Bluetooth option as the wagons have a crude and different module than the TDI sedan that seriously limits the functions. You can only receive incoming calls with the wagon; no downloading of phone contacts or voice control, etc.

Frustration!

Bought the TDI Sportswagen manual trans because it was a good looking little car with nice styling and good fuel mileage. Car can't stay out of the shop! In the first 25 days of owning it has been back twice for multi-day stays in the dealership service dept. Dealer is trying hard but the car has mechanical problems. VW just isn't building reliable cars. Spent good money and didn't get good quality.

More diesel, please!

I decided to give up the commuter/family mover (Prius) in favor of the inspired driving characteristics, superior cargo room, and better looks of the JSW. Not wanting to give up on the efficiency, however, made the decision for the TDI flavor much more of a "need" than a "want". Well worth the premium price. I often find myself forgetting when the last time I refueled. The interior treatment is far superior to the JSW's competition, with excellent audio/entertainment accompaniments and vastly superior quality of materials/workmanship. Cargo hauling is also a big plus; after moving our household, I can attest to the versatility of having a wagon vice a sedan, or an mpg nightmare (SUVs).

Love it, but one regret

3 months and 3000 miles later and what a great little car! Fun to drive, 45 mpg highway (cruise on 69) overall average of 35 mpg +. Flexibility of a wagon is great. Ipod integration nice, if a little slow at times. Had I known that the navi system was navi only, no upgrade on the bluetooth, I may have thought twice about this option. VW has a bluetooth "Low" and "High" and the JSW TDI is low, so no voice dial or phone book import. Presented upgrade instructions found on line to the dealer and they offered to swap in the 9W3 unit for a mere $600 or so ($465 control unit, $25 for the antenna, 80 labor). They were as accommodative as could be, so no hard feelings... Oh well, live and learn

A combination of Corolla, BMW and Lexus

The inside is luxurious with lots of fine touch. Windows keep on closing even when the ignition is turned off. With the engine off the excellent radio can be turned on. The trunk closes without crashing the contents. This is the first car that I enjoy just taking

Second Diesel

I originally purchased the Golf TDI, and returned it. Brought home the TDI Jetta with the DSG. This car comes standard with incredible features. Satellite Radio, and bluetooth are excellent. The DSG shifts very fast, and sport mode makes this car really go when the turbo kicks in. The Golf TDI was a lot more fun to drive, and the sport seats were much better than the leatherette offered in the Jetta. Gas Mileage is great, but the dealer recommended that I do not fill it up with Biodiesel. I have been averaging 30 to 34 mpg in city, and managed 43 mpg on the highway. Also purchased at 0.0% financing. Great Car, but not as much fun as as the Golf.

Sporty Diesel

Really happy, that sums things up nicely. If you are looking for a sporty sedan that gets better gas mileage than most hybrids, you found it. The first reasonably priced sporty diesel in the U.S., I can carve corners and still be good to the environment (and my wallet).

I am stocked

I have not drove a VW since my brothers VW transporter in 1972 trip to Baja Mexico. We bought a clean Diesel TDI Jetta wagon I have drove 280 miles and my tank is still 1/2 full. I had to junk my 11 year old Buick Park Ultra Sedan. The steering collapsed. I am a big guy 6' 4" the Jetta fits me great. Leg room elbow comfort, hip space head room comfy seats. Lots of electronics the radio and speakers are concert hall quality. I can put my entire CD collection on one 4gb flash card and plays the all. Next year a HOMELINK feature would be good. I love it what a nice car. After reading the history I did not know the British ran the company.

Crazy Fun

I have had this car for 6 months - mostly driven in Wisconsin winter conditions. After 8,500 miles all I can say is WOW! Fun would be an understatement. I spent about $800 for a winter set of alloy rims and Michelin X-Ice tires at Tire Rack - highly recommend winter tires given the torque in this engine. Averaged 38 to 40 MPG over coldest months driving 40% city/60% highway. Now above freezing and getting 42 to 44 MPG. If I really keep off the gas pedal I can get high 40s, but hard to do when you have that engine under the hood. Beats the heck out of my wife's Camry Hybrid and gets much better highway milage (city milage too in cold weather.) Manual is a little touchy until you get feel.

Love it so Far

Just bought the car a week ago but I am really falling in love with it already. Only used one tank of gas but I'm averaging 47MPG on mostly highway driving. Got the base TDI with no options except the Southern kit which is pretty much just extra floor mats and a trunk divider. Traded in a 06 Mazda3 and while the TDI is not as nimble on the road, it is much more compliant and comfortable for my commute. Amazing set of features for a "base" car: Touch screen satellite radio, ten airbags, heated seats and mirrors, and much more. Also like the VW 3 years/36,000 mile recommended services that are included. If the car turns out to be reliable it will be the perfect vehicle.

unhappy with new jetta

I just bought a new Jetta. In only 2 weeks, I have already had 2 different problems requiring 2 different trips to the dealership. Neither VW nor the dealership offered a free rental car while my car was being repaired.

Green Car

Very satisfied with the Jetta TDI. The drive (on dry pavement), comfort, and fuel economy are outstanding. Good green car and alternative to a hybrid. One can tell it is a diesel on a cold morning. When temperature is below 30, the car does sound like a diesel truck. The car does not handle well in snow. Does not have good traction.

I truly hate to part with my Jetta TDI!